Clemens Is Not Sharp, but Wins 19th

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Aug. 18, 1997 12 AM PT

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From Associated Press

Jaret Wright came equipped with his 98-mph fastball and aspirations to beat his boyhood idol--Roger Clemens.

Wright was 10 when Roger Clemens won his first Cy Young Award. He was 21 Sunday, getting outpitched by Clemens, who continued his bid to win a fourth Cy Young.

Clemens struck out 11 in his major league-leading 19th victory as the Toronto Blue Jays snapped Cleveland’s four-game winning streak with a 10-5 victory over the Indians.

“You want to have your A-game when you go against someone like Clemens,” Wright said. “I don’t care who was pitching, I didn’t get it done.”

Clemens wasn’t at his best, giving up a three-run double to Sandy Alomar and failing to pitch a complete game for the first time in three starts. He gave up four runs and six hits with three walks in seven innings.

The Blue Jays rescued Clemens with a seven-run fourth against Wright and reliever Jason Jacome. Jose Cruz Jr. hit a three-run homer to cap the rally.

Clemens (19-4) moved within one victory of his fourth 20-win season and first since 1990. Wright (3-2), a hot prospect and the son of former Angel Clyde Wright, gave up six runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in his ninth major league start.

Seattle 5-2, Chicago 3-4--Ken Griffey Jr. hit two home runs to reach 40 for the fourth time in his career and the Mariners won the first game at Chicago.

In the second game, rookie pitcher Mike Sirotka won his season debut as the White Sox earned a split of the doubleheader and stopped a four-game losing streak.

Griffey went four for five in the first game, including a two-run homer off Jaime Navarro (9-10) in the first inning and a solo homer in the ninth off Chuck McElroy. Those two home runs gave him seven in 10 games.

Griffey took over the major-league lead at 40, one more than Tino Martinez of the New York Yankees. Griffey finished the doubleheader five for nine.

Jay Buhner added his 30th homer for Seattle, becoming the first Mariner to hit 30 or more homers in three consecutive seasons. Seattle starter Jeff Fassero (12-7) gave up one run and five hits in seven innings.

In the second game, Sirotka held the Mariners to five hits in 5 1/3 innings in his first start since being recalled from the minors Thursday.

Boston 10, Minnesota 5--Nomar Garciaparra extended his hitting streak to 20, tying Fred Lynn’s team rookie record, as the Red Sox won at Boston to send the Twins to their ninth consecutive loss.

Aaron Sele (12-9) gave up two runs and four hits in seven innings. He had a 11.25 earned-run average in his previous four starts.

Bob Tewksbury (4-9), activated from the disabled list before the game, gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings. He had been sidelined since July 22 because of a strained right shoulder.

Detroit 8, Kansas City 4--Travis Fryman drove in four runs and Damion Easley drove in three as the Tigers won at Detroit to stop a four-game losing streak.

Greg Keagle (1-2) won for the first time in nine career starts, giving up three runs and five hits in seven innings. Keagle struck out seven and walked none.

Jose Rosado (8-9) gave up six runs and five hits in 2 1/3 innings, the shortest outing in his career.

Milwaukee 5, Oakland 2--After a three-hour 49-minute rain delay at Milwaukee, Jose Valentin hit a solo home run and Julio Franco doubled in a run to lead the Brewers

Steve Woodard (3-1) gave up seven hits and two runs in five innings. Doug Jones pitched the ninth for his 25th save in 26 tries.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

BESTS OF THE DAY

BATTING

Player: Ken Griffey Jr.

Team: Seattle

Performance: 1st game: 4 for 5, two home runs, 3 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win

Player: Tim Raines

Team: New York

Performance: 3 for 5, double, 2 runs, 3 RBIs

Team’s Result: Win